Fire extinguisher



Feb. 12 1924.

1,483,329 H. A. BRAMAN FIRE EXTINGUISHER Original Filed March 24. 1922 2Sheets-Sheet l //////l Elma,

Feb. 12 1924.

H. A. BRAMAN FIRE EXTINGUISHER Original Filed March 24. 1922 2 SheetS-Shet 2 W l %w P a u l wou 0 L U Q l w a Q, a w 6 v Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

UNITED HAROLD A. BRAMAN', OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

FIRE 'EXTINGUIS-HER.

Application filed March 24, 1922, Serial No. 546,328. Renewed January 2,1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that HAROLD A. BRAMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and Stateof Rhode Island, has invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates tofire extinguishers and particularly to anautomatic, thermally controlled extinguisher in which is contained twoor more different chemicals which when mixed will give off a fireextinguishing gas.

The principal object of my invention is to prevent the escape of thechemicals before complete reaction has taken place.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be inpart described and in part apparent as the specification is proceededwith,

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a preferred embodiment ofmy invention; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of myinvention.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsthe numeral 1 designates ametallic container of any suitable shape. A second metallic container 2fits within the upper open end of the outer or main container 1 andprojects slightly therefrom. The upper ends of both containers are screwthreaded externally as at 3 and 4 respectively to receive the rings 5and 6. A cover plate 7 rests upon and closes the upper end of the innercontainer while the ring 6 rests upon the upper end of the outer or maincontainer 1 and serves as a support for the innercontainer 2. It willalso be noted that the ring 6 together with the inner container servesas a closure for the outer container 1.

When the parts just described are assembled the rings 5 and 6 will beflush with the upper end of the container to which it is attached. Bolts(not shown) passing through aligned openings 9 in the rings and coverplate clamp the parts; together and effect air and liquid tight joints.

The containers 1 and 2 are filled with any known chemicals which whenmixed form an eificient fire extinguishing gas under pressure. It willbe noted that the inner container is about half the height of the outercontainer and that in consequence when assembled they will each holdabout equal amount of chemicals. I

Thebottom wall 10 of the inner container 1 is formed with valve opening11, adapted to receive valve guide pins 12 mounted upon and projectingupwardly from the valve 13 which will presently be described in greaterdetail.

The container 1 is provided with an outlet opening 14 in the bottom wall15 thereof normally closed by a valve 16, having a lead insert 17 in itsupper face adapted tobe engaged by the tapered ridge 18 formed on theouter face of the bottom wall thus-efiiecting a tight joint.

The valve 16 is maintained in closed position by means of a yoke clamporrod 19 supported at one end on lugs 20 depending from the container 1.Theopposite end of this rod or yoke is connected to the container 1 asat 21 by means of a readily fusible link 22, thereby holding the closureorvalve 16 tightly to its seat. An adjusting screw 23 permits of theadjustment of t'he valve after the fusible link has been placed over thebracket 21 and the clamp-19.

A tubular nozzle 24 normallyseats in the outlet opening 14, the lowerend of the nozzle being supported on the valve '16 flush with the outerface of'the bottom wall 15 of the container 1. This nozzle is exteriorlythreaded at its upper end to receive the interiorly threaded lower endof tube 34 the upper end of which is interiorly threaded to receive theenlarged lower exteriorly threaded portion of a guide pin 25, the latterprojecting upwardly into the central longitudinal opening 26 in'thevalve 13. A coil spring 27 hearing at its upper end against the valve 13and at its lower end against the tube 34 serves to resiliently hold thevalve 13 in closed position. This valve 13, like the valve 16 is formedwith a lead insert 28 adapted to contact with the sharpened ridge 29formed on the bottom Wall of the inner container 2 thereby eifecting agas and liquid tight joint.

In the event of fireoccuring in proximity to the container 1', thereadily fusible link 22 will give way under action ofthe heat and thespring pressure of the nozzle 24,.and the clamp yoke or rod 19 will dropfrom its seat on the lugs 20. Simultaneously with this movement thenozzle 24 drops down through the outlet opening 14, until it is arrestedby the lower end of the tube 34 coming in contact with the bottom wall15 of the container 1, it being understood that the opening 14 is notsufliciently large to permit of the tube 34 entering therein. As thetube 34 and nozzle move away from the container 2 and valve 13, thetension of coil spring 27 is relieved and the valve 13 opens by gravity.The liquid in container 2 now drops down through opening 11 in container1.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced with thisgeneral type of extinguisher due to the fact that the liquid wouldescape from the main container before complete chemical reaction hadtaken place. This objection is obviated in the present invention byclosing the upper end of the nozzle by means of a fragile disk 30. Thisdisk prevents the liquid which freely flows through the large openings31 in the tube 34 from passing out through the nozzle until sufficientpressure has been generated by the mixing of. the two liquids, to causethe disk to break. The resistance power of the disk against breakage canbe regulated so that it will only give way when complete chemicalreaction has taken place, and a certain predetermined gas pressureproduced.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a modified form of my invention wherein4O designates an air tight andiliquid tight container of any suitablesize and shape, and made of cast iron or other suitable material capableof withstanding considerable pressure. The container 40 and the bottle41 are filled with any known chemicals which when mixed together willform an efficient fire extinguishing gas under pressure. Any suitablemeans such as brackets 42 may be employed to de tachably connect thecontainer 40 to the ceiling or wall of a room or building.

The lower end of the container 40 is formed with a threaded opening 43in which is screwed a flanged ring 44 having an opening 45 in whichseats the conical portion 46 of a valve or closure 47, a cork or otherpacking ring 48 interposed between the ring 44 and the annular shoulder49 on the valve forming a liquid tight joint between these parts. Thevalve 47 is normally held in closed position by a plate or rod 50hingedly supported at one end as at 51 to a lug 52 carried by the ring44; The opposite or free end of this plate or rod 50 is connected to thecontainer by means of a readily fusible member or link 53, therebyholding the closure or valve tightly to its seat.

Formed on or suitably attached to the ring 44 is a spider 7 3 whichserves as a guide for the stem 54 of a nozzle '55, normally resilientlyheld against the inner face of the valve or closure 56 by a coil spring57 engaging at its upper and lower ends respectively with the spider 7 3and nozzle 55.

The bottle 41, previously described as containing a suitable chemical,is securely held within a seat or holder 56, pivotally supported at 58to a bracket 59 bolted or otherwise suitably attached to the inner wallof the container 41. The position of the bottle 41 with respect to thehinge 58 is such that while the bottle will be normally maintained inupright position a minimum of effort will be necessary to tip the bottleout of equilibrium.

In the event of a fire occurring in proximity to the container 40 thereadily fusible link 53 will give way under action of the heat and thepressure of the nozzle 55, and hinged plate 50 will be caused to swingto open position on its hinge 51. Simultaneously with this movement ofthe plate 50, the valve 47 is opened as the nozzle 55 is forcedoutwardly through the opening 60. The outward movement of the nozzle islimited by the flange 61 coming in contact with the flanged ring 44, theformer being preferably provided with a packing washer 62 to effect atight joint between said flange and ring.

Outward movement of the nozzle causes the bottle 41 to be tiltedsufficiently to cause its contents to be spilled into the main containerin the following manner. The stem 54 of the nozzle is hingedly connectedto a lug 63 formed on and projecting from the bottle holder 56 by meansof a link 64. Consequently downward movement of the stem 54 causes thebottle holder to rock upon its pivot 58, it being understood that thebottle stopper 65, which is loosely seated within the mouth of thebottle, will become unseated when the bottle is tilted. The bottlestopper is preferably tapered and also weighted at its top portion toinsure its dropping out of the bottle, and the spilling of the contentsthereof when the bottle is tilted to approximately horizontal position.A chain 65 connected at opposite ends to the bottle stopper and to thecap or closure 66 of the container 40 prevents the bottle stopper fromfalling into the container. This chain also serves to pull the stopperfrom the neck of the bottle when the latter has reached the limit of itsdownward tilting movement, in the event the stopper should not drop outby force of gravity during such movement. It will be understood that thebottle is securely clamped or otherwise fixed to the seat or holder 56to provide against displacement during tilting.

In order to prevent theliquid from escaping while chemical reaction istaking place as the result of mixing the two ingredients, a fragile disk67 is placed over the top of the nozzle 55, the function and operationof this disk being identical with that of the disk of Figure 1.

Having thus described my what I claim is:

l. A fire extinguisher comprising a main container having an outletopening, means in said container for containing chemical substanceswhich when mixed together enerate a fire extinguishing gas, a valve fornormally closing said outlet opening, automatic means for bringing saidchemical substances into contact with each other when said valve isopened, and means for closing said valve opening after said valve hasbeen opened until a predetermined chemical reaction has taken place insaid container.

2. A fire extinguisher comprising a main container having an outletopening, means in said container for containing chemical substanceswhich when mixed generate a fire extinguishing gas, a valve for normallyclosing said outlet opening, automatic means for bringing said chemicalsubstance into contact with each other when said valve is opened, andfragile means for invention,

temporarily closing said valve opening after said valve has been opened.

30 3. A fire extinguisher comprising a main container having an outletopening, means in said container for containing different chemicalsubstances which when mixed generate a fire extinguishing gas, a valvefor said outlet opening, fusible means for maintaining said valve inclosed position, a nozzle normally extending into said outlet openingand resting upon said valve and adapted to extend through said openingwhen said fusible means is rendered inoperative and said valve opens,means for mixing said chemical substances upon the opening of saidvalve, and a fragile disk closing one end of said nozzle.

4. A fire extinguisher comprising a main container having an outletopening, means in said container for containing chemical substanceswhich when mixed together gencrate a fire extinguishing gas underpressure, and fragile means for preventing the escape of gas throughsaid outlet opening until the said gas exerts a predetermined pressureagainst said fragile means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD A. BRAMAN. Witnesses A. E. HOLLAND, J. D. HOLIHEN.

